MIKE HEDGES WELCOMES EXTRA £6 MILLION FOR THIRD SECTOR ORGANISATIONS

£6 million of funding has been awarded to third sector organisations in Wales, Welsh Labour's Children and Communities Secretary, Carl Sargeant has announced.

Mike said…..I greatly welcome this extra funding for the voluntary sector; I am well aware that volunteers form the backbone of many communities and this extra funding will go a long way to supporting this work. I would like to take this opportunity to thank volunteers in Swansea East for the work they do in supporting their communities.’

£4.5 million of core funding has been allocated to Third Sector Support Wales to help them provide advice and training to third sector organisations across the country for key activities such as fundraising and governance. 

A further £1.3 million has been awarded to the Volunteering Wales grant scheme to provide support to volunteer-involving organisations and £41,000 has been awarded to the Community Foundation in Wales, a charity which distributes grants to community groups and voluntary organisations throughout Wales. The money will part fund two posts at the charity. 

The remaining funding will be used to compensate Third Sector organisations who are members of the Third Sector Partnership Council for the time spent working with the Welsh Government and organising network events to share Welsh Government priorities and research the views of the sector to share with Ministers

Mike Hedges AM welcomes news of 422k awarded to Credit Unions across Wales

Mike Hedges, AM for Swansea East has welcomed news from Welsh Government that extra funding is to made available to Credit Unions in Wales.

He said… I am aware of the good work that LASA Credit Union do in Swansea East and hope that they can benefit from this additional funding. Credit Unions provide services to many of the most disadvantaged people in the Communities of Swansea East and I have been very impressed with the work they do in Partnership with Communities First teams in the areas and with local schools.

 I would urge anyone with money problems to contact the Credit Union rather than use High Interest pay day loan type companies.

Communities and Children Secretary, Carl Sargeant has announced £422,334 for credit unions across Wales during 2017-18.

The funding will help credit unions continue to support financially excluded members as well as help their longer term sustainability. Projects will include schools savings schemes and community engagement programmes.

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Mike Hedges AM Welcomes Funding increase for disadvantaged pupils

Mike Hedges AM has welcomed changes to support for the most disadvantaged pupils in Wales. 

The Welsh Labour Government have announced  that the Pupil Deprivation Grant will be renamed the Pupil Development Grant (PDG).

The new grant will be extended to help more pupils than its predecessor.

The Welsh Government is to invest over £90m through the Pupil Development Grant over the next financial year to help disadvantaged pupils in Welsh schools.  Making available (insert local figure) for disadvantaged pupils in (insert authority area).

The Money available from April will include funding to…

·         Double the grant to £600 per eligible child in nursery and reception classes.

·         Extending support to all three year old looked after children. The funding can also be used to support previously looked after children who have been adopted.

·         Extending the support to pupils whose education happens outside a school setting. Currently only those from pupil referral units received the support.

Mike Said:  “This money is about ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed.”

“The pupil deprivation Grant was already having an impact on breaking the link between poverty and attainment.  It is right however to recognise there is more to do and extend the grant.”

“I welcome the change in name of the grant small but significant change in the name of the grant.  Not only does this reflect the excellent practice that already exists across Wales, but this more positive name will better emphasise learner progression alongside reducing the attainment gap.”

Swansea PDG for 2017-18 =           £7,415,600

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